Algebra and Expressions
MYP Mathematics Framework — Number & Algebra strand (Algebraic expressions and equations)
Every letter you meet from here on is doing one of two jobs: standing in for a number you don't know yet, or one that keeps changing. MYP1 algebra is really just two skills stacked together — tidying expressions up (simplifying) and using letters to model a real situation (word problems, formulae, graphs). Get sharp at spotting like terms and reading what a coefficient or constant actually tells you, because every question type below leans on exactly that.
Overview — The Shape of This Chapter
What 'algebra' actually means at this level
Algebra replaces a specific number with a letter so a rule works for every possible value at once. isn't 'unknown maths' — it's a compressed instruction: 'take whatever is, multiply by 3, add 2.' Everything in this topic is either building that instruction, tidying it up, or evaluating it for a particular value.
- An expression never has an equals sign — it's simplified, not solved.
- A term is one chunk separated by or ; an expression is made of one or more terms.
- Two skills get tested constantly: combining like terms correctly, and reading meaning out of an expression's parts (coefficient, constant, variable).
The shape of the chapter
Command terms this topic uses constantly
| Command term | What it demands | AO | Mark-earning move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify | Pick out and name the exact feature asked for | AO1 | 1 mark for naming it correctly — extra explanation earns nothing but costs time |
| Describe | Give a full account in words of a process or feature | AO2 | Mark is for correctly stating the METHOD/feature, not for repeating the numeric answer |
| Calculate | Show working and reach a numerical or algebraic answer | AO1/AO2 | Method mark awarded for a correct step even if the final simplification slips |
| State | Give a short answer with no working required | AO1 | 1 mark for the correct answer alone — working is not needed but doesn't hurt |
| Compare | Identify a similarity AND a difference between two things | AO3 | Marks split between 'same' and 'different' — giving only one loses half the marks |
| Explain | Give a reason — the 'why', not just the 'what' | AO3 | A bare statement with no justification scores zero even if it's true |
Key point
Overview